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CNN.com poll

Bail Out Bungling 101

One of the problems of the bailout can be boiled down by some to this (and I can see why, frankly):http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/0..._n_128294.html"Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency."

Did we just flirt with dictatorship? What is the point of wording like this for ANY reason in a democracy?

I wanted to let you know that today, on behalf of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, I announced our endorsement of Barack Obama for President. Please see my blog below for more information, and help spread the word to animal lovers across the country.

Sincerely,

Mike Markarian
President
Humane Society Legislative Fund

One of the guiding principles of the Humane Society Legislative Fund is that we evaluate candidates based on a single criterion: where they stand on animal protection policies. We don't make decisions based on party affiliation, or any other social issue, or even how many pets they have. We care about their views and actions on the major policy debates relating to animal welfare.

The good news is thanks to Shirley Chisholm, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Angela Davis, Condoleeza Rice, Anita Hill, Madeline Albright, Maxine Waters, Kathleen Sebelius, Hilary Rodham Clinton and a slew of others, there are 18 million proverbial cracks in the ceiling. Our collective political and economic power is due to the strides (and leaps) they, and others, took on my behalf.

I am grateful. I am deeply humbled to stand on the bricks they’d laid before me.

But, whatever our struggle was (and is) that last thing I want is to be patronized. Just as I cannot support just any African American who decides to offer themselves up for public service, I will not toss my vote to someone just because we share the same chromosome mix. To do so would dishonor the vow I made to my children, to myself. I did not vote for Al Sharpton, wasn’t old enough (nor would I have) voted for Jesse Jackson and I certainly will not support Sarah Palin. Identity politics, especially in this case, are a sham of the worst order.

When I cast my vote, it will be for people who will lay more bricks for people like me. It will be for people who will put diplomacy before war, challenge us all to provide healthcare for the sick, help another child go to college, and check the special interests in Washington. This fall, I’m not looking for a woman.

NEWBERG, Ore. (AP) -- Officials of a Christian university say a life-size cardboard effigy of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was hung from a campus tree, suspended from a branch with fishing line around the neck.

Taped to the cardboard cutout of the black senator from Illinois was a message targeting participants in Act Six, a scholarship program that looks to increase the number of minority and low-income students.

The message read, "Act Six reject."

The school has 17 students enrolled in the Act Six program, according to a release. It said most are members of minority groups. Students in the program receive full scholarships, according to school officials, and they are selected based on their leadership potential.

One of the problems of the bailout can be boiled down by some to this (and I can see why, frankly):http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/0..._n_128294.html"Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency."

Did we just flirt with dictatorship? What is the point of wording like this for ANY reason in a democracy?

I may not agree with Madison on a lot of things but the above is one that I do agree.

What kind of nonsense is this? And who in their right mind would agree to it? I'm sure we'll hear that well worn phrase "for the greater good" but the great good for "who"? And that is the $20,000 question for the day.

Is there any reason why the lawmakers cannot take two days and really study this proposal. Let McCain come back or not; let Obama come back or not but both need to go over this proposal with a fine tooth comb as any other elected legislator should be expected to do.

There is a lot more I want to say but I'm afraid I may say somethings I really mean.

Last edited by 4dogknight; September 25th, 2008 at 12:07 PM.
Reason: clarification

I may not agree with Madison on a lot of things but the above is one that I do agree.

What kind of nonsense is this? And who in their right mind would agree to it? I'm sure we'll hear that well worn phrase "for the greater good" but the great good for "who"? And that is the $20,000 question for the day.

Is there any reason why the lawmakers cannot take two days and really study this proposal. Let McCain come back or not; let Obama come back or not but both need to go over this proposal with a fine tooth comb as any other elected legislator should be expected to do.

There is a lot more I want to say but I'm afraid I may somethings I really mean.

4dognight--I agree. Here is a blog that says much of what I feel about this "bailout." I am going to post a bunch of quotes here. Alexa, feel free to edit. This is one long, long blog entry so I do not believe that several quotes violate any copyright issues. I agree with much of this, minus specific references to individuals running for office. IMHO, both Republicans and Democrats are a part of the problem:

What we do have is one man, whom nobody ever elected, saying that we have to do this by friday or the sky will fall. Give me a trillion dollars to hand out like Santa Claus or you are all going to be sorry. I don’t know if you will STILL be sorry after you give it to me, but Just. Do. It.

Maybe we should all, everybody in America, stop paying our mortgages. Then we can all get our homes practically for free? Ya think?

That trillion dollars would go a lonnnnng way to reduce the cost of health insurance in America. That trillion would go a lonnnng way to repair our decaying infrastructure AND provide jobs while doing it.

So what else am I hearing? I’m hearing that some in congress want to add auto loans and charge card balances to the mix as well. And student loans. I don’t care whose idea this is or what party you are in while you serve in congress. If you support this..<read the article for the rest of the quote>.

Those of you who pay off your charge cards, those of you who reliably pay your auto loans and mortgages, those of you who rent while you save your own money to buy a home, and those of you who bust your butts to pay off your school loans, will this benefit you? Nope. The middle class is about to get screwed again. This time it’s BIG TIME. That’s the message. There is no other message here. By the time Congress is done porking up this bill for the lobbyists, the American Dollar won’t be worth squat. And guess who cares? Those of us who aren’t benefiting from this bailout, that’s who. Why? Because we are going to have to pay for it and still pay our own bills with our devalued dollar.

If you worked hard and responsibly paid your bills up until now, you will get NOTHING. If you are a deadbeat, this is your Day. If you are a greedy corporation, this is your Day. But the rest of you can just go punt.

In short, you are sucker punched. You are being punished for the sacrifices you made. You are being punished for living within your own means. And you are being punished for saving against your own future. Both sides of congress are punishing you.

And right now, you are on the bottom of the congressional shoe and they are wiping you off. Right after they empty your wallets. If for some reason, you busted your butt to reach a piece of the American Dream through your own hard work and ingenuity, you are also screwed. You will pay for this. You will pay for doing it right.

I think it’s interesting how corporations want Capitalism when things are going well, and they want Socialism when things aren’t going so well. When was the last time a corporation offered their share their profits with Americans? Now they want us to share in their debt. I think it’s even more interesting that congress thinks this is Ok.

I think it’s just as interesting that our congress thinks the people who behave responsibly toward their creditors are worth nothing, and people who are not responsible should have their debts absorbed by the rest of us who ARE responsible.

According to Rasmussen, Sept 23, Only 28% of Americans approve of this trillion dollar idea.

Close Contests in Four Key States

The presidential race between John McCain and Barack Obama in four key battleground states remains remarkably stable despite a month of politically significant developments, with the Illinois senator running ahead of or even with his Republican rival according to polling conducted by Quinnipiac University for washingtonpost.com and the Wall Street Journal.

In Colorado, Obama takes 49 percent to 45 percent for McCain while in Michigan Obama stands at 48 percent as compared to 44 percent for McCain. The contest in Minnesota, once considered a lock for Obama, is also quite close with Obama at 47 percent and McCain 45 percent.Only in Wisconsin does Obama have an edge -- 49 percent to 42 percent -- outside the statistical margin of error for the poll.

STEPHEN COLBERT: One of the things I love about my character is I can make vast declarations and it doesn't matter if I'm wrong. I love being wrong. So my character can tell you exactly what's going to happen: The Democrats are going to change everything. We're going to have gay parents marrying their own gay babies. Obama's gonna be sworn in on a gay baby. The oath is gonna end ''So help me, gay baby.''

LOL

The rest of it is just as hilarious.

I like what Colbert said about the news...which is so true these days..

STEPHEN COLBERT: There's not more news now than there was when we were kids. There's the same amount from when it was just Cronkite. And the easiest way to fill it is to have someone's opinion on it. Then you have an opposite opinion, and then you have a mishmash of fact and opinion, and you leave it the least informed you can possibly be.

Okay, I felt the need to defend Obama regarding a couple things about the debate, seeing as how some people are getting worked up over things in other parts of the forum. And since the Nobama thread is off limits to Obama supporters now, I thought I'd share my thoughts here.

Okay, so a few people complained that Obama seemed condescending in his discourse during the debate. They pointed out that he interrupted McCain, and that he called him by his first name rather than his title "Senator McCain". I felt his interruptions were merited, seeing as how McCain was spouting blatant lies. And, too, with the time crunch, I felt that's what they were SUPPOSED to do. And McCain did his share of talking over, too. And calling him on first name basis really only seems appropriate to me. That's like saying a teacher should call another teacher "Mr. So-and-So" rather than their first name when they are talking to them on a personal level. That's just stupid. AND CONDESCENDING? What about McCain not even looking at Obama during the debate!!! I felt McCain was being much more condescending than Obama.

Another thing that is getting talked up a lot is when Obama said "I have a bracelet, too." And that he looked down at it before naming whose it was. Okay. I felt the way that Obama brought that in was COMPLETELY appropriate because when McCain mentioned his, he said it in a way that was being used for his own personal gain. It seemed like such the same emotional tear-jerker story that was being brought up for his own political gain. I thought that was tacky in itself. The way Obama talked about his was more respectful, bringing McCain back down to earth to say that just because you don't support the war doesn't mean you feel for the troops. AND, when Obama looked down at it, I don't think he was looking at it to remember the name. I think he was just looking at it in thought. If someone asks me the time, and I KNOW it's 10:00, I'll still look down at my watch before I say what time it is. It's just something I do, and I'm pretty sure that's what was going on in this instance.

I'm just sick of McCain supporters finding stupid stuff to harp on. I'm tired of being referred to as a cult follower because I believe in the change Obama can bring to our country. However, they can call me whatever they want, because I don't care. I know that I make choices of who I support based on facts and deep thought. If that's what it means to be a cult follower, then I must be out of my mind.

A group of 61 Nobel Laureates have gotten together to endorse Barack Obama for President. Their letter and the signatories are below. This is the largest number of Nobel Laureates to ever endorse a candidate for office, more than endorsed either Gore or Kerry. (Kerry had 48 total.)

Lukicraze, I see your points. I also think that if McCain couldn't have handled those things, considering how minor they were, he shouldn't bother being president, because that will be much more tough. If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen, etc. Obama was aggressive, and it was great, and he owes no apologies IMO. At least Obama had the decency to look AT McCain sometimes which is more than we can say about McCain. Obama also agreed with McCain on some things. McCain did not, even though he claims to reach across the aisle.

And I agree about looking at the bracelet not meaning he forgot. I would have looked down like that as well, like you said about watches. It's just people who wouldn't support Obama, regardless, flapping their jaws, as my teacher used to say.

Last edited by Krista; September 28th, 2008 at 03:45 AM.
Reason: spelling

Okay, I felt the need to defend Obama regarding a couple things about the debate, seeing as how some people are getting worked up over things in other parts of the forum. And since the Nobama thread is off limits to Obama supporters now, I thought I'd share my thoughts here.

Okay, so a few people complained that Obama seemed condescending in his discourse during the debate. They pointed out that he interrupted McCain, and that he called him by his first name rather than his title "Senator McCain". I felt his interruptions were merited, seeing as how McCain was spouting blatant lies. And, too, with the time crunch, I felt that's what they were SUPPOSED to do. And McCain did his share of talking over, too. And calling him on first name basis really only seems appropriate to me. That's like saying a teacher should call another teacher "Mr. So-and-So" rather than their first name when they are talking to them on a personal level. That's just stupid. AND CONDESCENDING? What about McCain not even looking at Obama during the debate!!! I felt McCain was being much more condescending than Obama.

Another thing that is getting talked up a lot is when Obama said "I have a bracelet, too." And that he looked down at it before naming whose it was. Okay. I felt the way that Obama brought that in was COMPLETELY appropriate because when McCain mentioned his, he said it in a way that was being used for his own personal gain. It seemed like such the same emotional tear-jerker story that was being brought up for his own political gain. I thought that was tacky in itself. The way Obama talked about his was more respectful, bringing McCain back down to earth to say that just because you don't support the war doesn't mean you feel for the troops. AND, when Obama looked down at it, I don't think he was looking at it to remember the name. I think he was just looking at it in thought. If someone asks me the time, and I KNOW it's 10:00, I'll still look down at my watch before I say what time it is. It's just something I do, and I'm pretty sure that's what was going on in this instance.

I'm just sick of McCain supporters finding stupid stuff to harp on. I'm tired of being referred to as a cult follower because I believe in the change Obama can bring to our country. However, they can call me whatever they want, because I don't care. I know that I make choices of who I support based on facts and deep thought. If that's what it means to be a cult follower, then I must be out of my mind.

Luke,
The same group of whiners in that other thread has been at it for months. I take nothing they say as fact. They are simply unhappy.

I don't know why they think their viewpoint is any more important than ours, but they do. You (and all of us) are entitled to our opinions every bit as much as they are entitled to theirs (however WRONG). After all, this is a democracy!

I don't bother to read the baloney anymore, and have given most of them 'PRIORITY' status on my IGNORE list.

AND, President Obama will be in power for 4 years +. That will be enough for the folks in the other thread to bear, so I am ignoring them.

I have lost my Presidential candidate or not liked any Presidential candidate many times in my life. I've never felt the need to resort to innuendos and put-downs of others because their candidate was leading. I just sip my kool-aid, and chalk them up to people who can't see the forest through the trees

The Missouri Law Enforcement Brouhaha

I too have done a little research on this "Missouri Law Enforcement" and what I've been able to find are statements by and at blogs by very conservative people.

http://www.webcommentary.com/asp/Sho...es&date=080927
Author: Sher Zieve
Date: September 27, 2008
Obama Stalinist Police State Already Taking Form
If anyone thinks the PUMA are a radical organization after reading this site will think the PUMAs are rational pussycats.
See the blurb on the author Sher Zieve.

Sher Zieve is an author, political commentator, Staff Writer and Program Director for The New Media Alliance (www.thenma.org). Zieve’s Op/Ed columns are widely carried by multiple Internet Journals and sites and she also writes hard news. Her columns have also appeared in The Oregon Herald, Dallas Times, Boston Star, Massachusetts Sun, Sacramento Sun, in International news publications and on multiple University websites. Zieve firmly believes that if Leftists ran the country (and left to their own inane devices), it would be the end of the United States as a sovereign nation.

The above three articles were written by Chad Livengood. His short blurb is as follows:

Chad Livengood is the legislative reporter covering the latest news in Jefferson City for the News-Leader. Follow Chad's blog for the latest news reports, analysis and extra coverage on state politics.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=76308
September 26, 2008
Prosecutors for Obama hunting for 'lying ads'
'Truth Squad' using sheriffs, DAs to police bias against candidate
This is the article where the curtain opens and we find out who is sitting behind it – our old friends at the NRA. Now this krappe is starting to sound familiar to me and I suppose a couple of others.

http://www.kxmc.com/News/Nation/279948.asp
Sep 27 2008
Obama Campaign Trying To Use Police Goon Squads To Intimidate Critics In Missouri
No author on this article but I’m betting on another neophyte because of the length of the title.

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/..._squads_2.html
September 27, 2008
Missouri's Obama Truth Squads (updated Governor's statement)
This article has something for everyone but when I googled Lee Cary the author of the article, what I got was an index of articles submitted by this person. No biography, no credentials, not even a picture.

On to a different but relevent topic:
We’ve heard and read the Alien and Sedition Acts being bandied around and for those who want to know a little more here are some sites to provide you with information.
Most recently the Sedition Act, if it hadn’t been repealed, would have come into play would have been the Kerry and the Swift boaters. Kerry was hung out to dry and his name became a “hissing and a byword”. (I don’t think people use this phrase any longer but if you’ve read any Kenneth Roberts or read any Revolutionary War materials you will see this phrase many times.)

The FINAL word!

Have a look at the electoral votes. Obama is pulling away, despite ALL the Rovian politics and fear-mongering.
We also have a state AG lawsuit going on up here which may tie up the results of the vote for weeks; yet he moves forward.
I was worried at one time, but I decided this man is actually smarter than Karl. Now I have decided just to trust him. He can take it, and has shown us that repeatedly.